Last Modified: Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 3:42 p.m.

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Allison Kennedy, 8, squatted on the sidewalk on Main Street in Hendersonville, working away on a masterpiece drawn and colored entirely with chalk underneath her mom's umbrella. The Saluda residents were taking part in their first ever “Chalk it Up,” an annual event organized by Barbara Hughes and Narnia Studios.

The image of the mother and daughter working together is what inspired Hughes to begin the event 17 years ago. As she worked, Hughes would let her children take chalk out on the sidewalk. Her kids began to attract the attention of other kids walking down the street.

The chalk squares that drew the biggest crowds were those belonging to Yoriko and Beverly Russell. The mother-daughter tandem have colored in squares for all 17 of the chalk events.

This year, the elder Russell drew a cat and a fish in her square and won in the professional division of the competition. For Yoriko Russell, the art is just a part of a special day spent with her daughter.

“It's something we do together,” she said.

When the duo started, Beverly Russell was in elementary school. She grew up watching her mom draw on the sidewalks and sort of became a sidewalk chalk apprentice. On Saturday, the younger Russell drew Ursula from the Little Mermaid.

Russell has learned from her mom and every now and then, she's won the event.

“She usually takes the cake, but I've beat her a couple of times,” Beverly Russell said.

The family tradition might have had to wait a week as the artists showed up on Saturday morning to a misty sky with a potential for rain. Hughes, however, left it up to the crowd.

“I asked them and they screamed that they wanted to (go ahead with it),” Hughes said. “I think it went wonderfully under the conditions. It made for a different experience.”

<p>Denise Kennedy stood on the sidewalk, black umbrella in hand, watching as her daughter added color to an otherwise gray, gloomy Saturday.</p><p>Allison Kennedy, 8, squatted on the sidewalk on Main Street in Hendersonville, working away on a masterpiece drawn and colored entirely with chalk underneath her mom's umbrella. The Saluda residents were taking part in their first ever “Chalk it Up,” an annual event organized by Barbara Hughes and Narnia Studios. </p><p>The image of the mother and daughter working together is what inspired Hughes to begin the event 17 years ago. As she worked, Hughes would let her children take chalk out on the sidewalk. Her kids began to attract the attention of other kids walking down the street.</p><p>“These big kids were making beautiful things with chalk,” Hughes said. </p><p>The idea grew from a few kids in front of her store to nearly 150 people taking part in the now official event. </p><p>Allison Kennedy was drawing a cat, which was Garfield-inspired, with a myriad of colors around it to form a heart. </p><p>How much did she love drawing her cat on the sidewalk?</p><p>“100 percent,” she said with a big smile.</p><p>It wasn't just fun for the kids. Kennedy's mom watched intently as her daughter drew the picture she'd sketched out the night before.</p><p>“It's awesome for all ages,” Denise Kennedy said. “It's fun to participate and it's fun to watch.”</p><p>The chalk squares that drew the biggest crowds were those belonging to Yoriko and Beverly Russell. The mother-daughter tandem have colored in squares for all 17 of the chalk events. </p><p>This year, the elder Russell drew a cat and a fish in her square and won in the professional division of the competition. For Yoriko Russell, the art is just a part of a special day spent with her daughter. </p><p>“It's something we do together,” she said.</p><p>When the duo started, Beverly Russell was in elementary school. She grew up watching her mom draw on the sidewalks and sort of became a sidewalk chalk apprentice. On Saturday, the younger Russell drew Ursula from the Little Mermaid.</p><p>Russell has learned from her mom and every now and then, she's won the event. </p><p>“She usually takes the cake, but I've beat her a couple of times,” Beverly Russell said. </p><p>The family tradition might have had to wait a week as the artists showed up on Saturday morning to a misty sky with a potential for rain. Hughes, however, left it up to the crowd.</p><p>“I asked them and they screamed that they wanted to (go ahead with it),” Hughes said. “I think it went wonderfully under the conditions. It made for a different experience.”</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>